ECCLESIASTES 11

1 ¶ Cast thy bread upon the waters (freely and liberally): for thou shalt find it after many days.

• This is a call to exercise the gift of faith.
• The Jewish Targum reads: ‘Give your nourishing bread to the poor who go in ships upon the surface of the water, for after a period of many days you will find its reward in the world to come.’
• Jesus put it best when He put it this way: Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil (misfortune; disaster) shall be upon the earth.

• The Preacher’s words of caution, ‘For you do not know what evil will be on the earth,’ should not deter us from action. If we were only to look at the pitfalls and possibilities of failure we would do nothing! Faith does not consider circumstance or obstacles; faith consider the character and power of God.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

• The eye of faith sees things from a different perspective than the natural eye. A saved person and an unsaved person may look at the same situation or circumstance, but how we interpret them is another matter. What the unsaved person sees as an obstacle, the believer in Jesus Christ sees as an opportunity to grow in faith and se God move. The natural eye sees only the gathering storm and the possibility of random acts of disaster, but the eye of faith knows that even these are products of divine providence.

4 He that observeth the wind (and waits for all the conditions to be perfect) shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

• Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant, if they watch every cloud, they never harvest. NLT
• Even within the natural realm of things, the merchant in verses 1 and 2 and the farmer of verses 3 and 4 must be disciplined to work in spite of potential obstacles and dangers exercise.  The vast majority of things that happen to us in life are beyond our control. Unbelief, fear and doubt can paralyze people from living a life of faith.
• These verses teach us that we should keep diligently at work in God's service, disregarding present inconveniences and unfavorable appearances. 1 Cor 15.58; Heb 6.10

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child (Psa 139, we are fearfully and wonderfully made): even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

• This is the same message as in Ecclesiastes 11:1. Spiritual seed (“the word of God”—Luke 8:11) should not only be sown far and wide, but also in both morning and evening. Then it is “God that giveth the increase” (I Corinthians 3:7). Dr Henry Morris, Defenders Study Bible
• There is a lovely parallel between the Preacher’s words in verse 5 and Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: ‘The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit’ (John 3:8).  The Holy Spirit is sovereign as he moves within the hearts of men in the process of regeneration.

7 ¶ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

• It was on the 4^th day of creation that God created the sun, which has been the visible source and sustainer of life on earth. All of God’s creation is meant to declare His glory and the benefits of His creation is creationare meant to be savored.
• The greatest and sweetest light is Jesus Christ, The Light of the world. And life has meaning—not under the sun, but in the Son.

8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all (when people liveto be old, let them rejoice in each day); yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment (hold you accountable for what you do).

• The term ‘walk’ is used in the Bible to denote the manner of one’s life: We are commanded to walk in God’s ways (Deut. 5:33; Ps. 1:1), blamelessly (Ps. 15:2; Prov. 2:5); in righteousness (Prov. 8:20); in understanding (Prov. 9:6); in obedience (2 John 6); in the light (1 John 1:7) and in the footsteps of faith (Rom. 4.12)
• It is natural and proper for young people to enjoy their youthful years, but they should always do so in ways pleasing to God, for He will eventually bring their complete record to the judgment bar.
• The inevitable fact of God’s judgment is placed in the bible in order that it might be the controlling principle of our decisions making and behaviour.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

ECCLESIASTES 12

The rabbis say that Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon when he was a young man, Proverbs as a middle-aged man, and Ecclesiastes as an old man. If that be so, it is no wonder that this is the last chapter of  last book.

1 ¶ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth (do not allow the excitement of youth cause you to forget that you have a Creator), while the evil days come not (before the evil days come), nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

• 3 words to young people in 11.9,10 and 12.1 rejoice, remove and remember.
• Young people rejoice in God’s blessings while you are young; remove from your life the sins that cause sorrow; and remember to serve God and fear Him in the days of your youth.
• Young people make a terrible mistake when they think, “It’s too hard to act decisively for the Lord now. My friends won’t understand; the crowd will reject me. It’s too tough to live for God now. When I get older, it will be easier.”
• Solomon is saying that’s not so. The older you get, the tougher it becomes. One of the greatest misunderstandings is that when we get older, we automatically become wiser. Not so. If you are not spending time in the Word now, worshiping God now, serving God now, when you get older, you’ll just be an old, cranky fool.

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

• Old age is represented as a season of clouds and rain, in which the light of the heavenly bodies is darkened.

Ecclesiastes 12:3-6 constitutes a picturesque description of how our outward man perishes with old age. 

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble (your legs), and the strong men shall bow themselves (your shoulders slouch), and the grinders cease because they are few (your teeth), and those that look out of the windows be darkened (your eyes grow dim),

• The picture of the body as a house or dwelling place is found elsewhere in Scripture. In the Book of Job it is referred to as a house of clay (Job 4:19), and the Paul speaks of ‘our earthly house’ (2 Cor. 5:1).

4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low (fades), and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high (afraid of heights), and fears shall be in the way (worry about the dangers in the world), and the almond tree shall flourish (the white hair of agd), and the grasshopper shall be a burden (the aged person is more easily agitated by things), and desire (sexual) shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets (at your funeral):

• When asked to perform some task, the inevitable answer of young guys is, “No problem.” But as we get older, things that were once no problem suddenly become surprisingly burdensome.

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

• A man in his 90’s said, “I don’t go out much now because my parents won’t let me…Mother nature & Father time!”

8 ¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

• This says to me that even during seasons of struggle with age, we need to continue to share the truth of God’s Word. Beloved, you’ll never be effective in ministry or life in general until you learn to lay aside your own struggles and trips, depression and victories, joys and disappointments and say, “I’m committed to living for The Lord and communicating His truth. Period.” For if you only draw near to God when you feel like it, your life and walk will be like an amusement park roller coaster. Likewise, if you only share God’s truth when you are felling well, your ministry will be inconsistent.

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are as goads (painful, yet helpful), and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd (God, the one great Shepherd).

• His words remind us of Paul’s words to Timothy, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
• The goads were sharp pointed sticks used to drive an animal in the direction required by its keeper. The purpose of the word of God is not meant to drive us to despair, but to reveal to us the path of life and to shepherd us into the presence of God.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

• Have you, by the grace of God, grasped the Scriptures, and submitted your lives to Him?

Solomon is now going for a home run at the end of this powerful book. People are looking to find meaning in partying, sex, comfort, success etc . It is as if Solomon is saying to us tonight, if you think that partying would bring satisfaction to your life, I threw epic parties and it left me as empty as before I started.  If you think that unlimited, unbridled sex will satisfy you, I have 700 wives and 300 hookers at my houses, and I was left just as empty as before I began. If you think that comfort and ease will make your life better,  I’m was the wealthiest man in my time period and I possessed every single comfort and ease one could ever imagine, and I was left as empty as before I came to that place of wealth. If you think that having people catering to your every whim, if you think that success in business will fulfill you. I’ve done them all and here is my conclusion to the great experiment:

13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

• The problem is that no one can keep all God’s commandments (note Ecclesiastes 7:20; James 2:10). The solution is in Christ, who said: This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent” (John 6:29).
• Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

• They who fear God, and make him their portion, will enjoy all that this world is capable of giving, and be prepared for the higher enjoyments of eternity.
• “Here’s the wholeness of man.” This is what man was created for. This is what fills the void in man, that he fears God, that he understands that God is and has placed faith in Him. And then, don’t forget about this second part, “...and keeps His commands.” This is where wholeness is found.
• The Preacher has emphasized the corruptible nature of our earthly being, but has only given us half of the picture. Paul provides us with the complete picture. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the process is irrevocably reversed for the believer: ‘For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality’ (1 Cor. 15:53).
• The Westminster Catechism tells us that, ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever.’ This is the Preacher’s conclusion as he brings his journey into understanding to an end.